North-east Scotland meat processing deal

ANM Group is to retain an interest in meat processing through a partnership between Scotbeef, Scotch Premier Meat and Mathers (Inverurie).

The partnership will see consolidation of the Scotch Premier Meat and Mathers businesses, and the creation of a new state-of-the-art meat processing facility at the Thainstone Agricultural Centre, near Inverurie – the headquarters of the ANM Group, which owns Scotch Premier Meat.

Earlier this year, ANM had announced it would sell all of its remaining meat processing interests following poor financial results in this part of the business.

By entering into a partnership, ANM was reducing the risk, said an ANM spokesman. “We are a farmers co-operative and some of the farmers were keen to maintain a link with the meat processing side,” he told Farmers Weekly.

The main shareholder in the new venture will be Scotbeef followed by Scotch Premier Meats and Mathers.

The agreement would secure the long-term future for meat processing in the north east of Scotland, while maintaining a competitive market to the benefit of farmers, customers and the local economy, said the companies.

A period of consultation with the companies’ 230 employees will be carried out; the intention is to retain as many positions as possible, but it is likely there will be some job losses.

Yorkshire Premier Meats

The ANM Group also announced last week, that it has entered into a period of exclusive negotiations with a potential buyer for its Yorkshire Premier Meats business, based at Kirkby, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. In March this year, the group announced its intention to sell the company following a £1.387m loss during 2011. An ANM Group spokesman said: “The interested party remains confidential at this time and there will be no further comment until the negotiations are concluded. The business continues to trade normally.”